Tunxis Community College
World Literature II
Exam I
The first exam in World Literature is composed of several short answer and three essay questions. Be brief, direct, and specific on the short answer questions. Use quotation and/or examples where appropriate or required. For the essay questions, apply standard MLA rules for quotation and paraphrase and develop your answers with substantial use of supportive evidence:
1. Literary Genre – assesses student ability to identify, define, and describe the attributes and significance of the primary genres and their sub-genres.
1.1 Level 1: Identifies major literary genres
3. Literary Aesthetics
3.1 Level 1: Identifies and defines aesthetic elements and their descriptive terminology (limited)
5. Literary Analysis (the ability refers to the act of synthesizing the acts of analysis in the preceding abilities and communicating that analysis – primarily via the essay but can also be through oral presentations, performances, or other media.)
5.1 Level 1: Critically reflects on their reading of world literature
5.2 Level 1: Evaluates the significance of specific literary passages to the text using appropriate terminology
Short Answers:
1. In The Peach Blossom Fan, Zhang Wei asks a significant question: “but when will love of man and maid / melt away once and for all?” (45). What theme is Wei emphasizing in these two lines?
2. In The Peach Blossom Fan, how does Yang transform the bloodied fan?
3. Xiangjun sings: “Every blossom breaks the heart, / lazily smiling in spring time breeze; / every petal melts the soul, sadly swirled in the current.” Why is the “blossom” “lazily smiling?”
4. Referring to the prior question, what is “sadly” swirling “in the current”?
5. Hou sings: “In the pleasure quarters’ lanes / they can lecture on principle and good name; / while school and court, / while school and court . . .” How do these lines reflect or illustrate a significant conflict in The Peach Blossom Fan? The hint to the answer here has to do with the spatial elements that are repeated.
6. In Atsumori, the movement of the moon in Act I suggests what existential thematic relationship (also referred to as a binary opposition in this case)?
7. In Atsumori, sleep and dream refer to what “realm of existence” in Japanese culture?
8. In Atsumori, what is the binary opposite of Nature?
9. The mowers are significant in Atsumori. Why? In other words, why mowing?
10. The “deep north” in The Narrow Road to the Deep North suggests two forms of travel, one literal, one metaphorical. What are they? Hint: there are many “deep norths” right?
11. Basho writes: “Autumn going-- / parting for Futami / a clam pried from its shell[.]” We can read this haiku in any number of ways. Provide one metaphorical reading. Note that this poem is almost a “travel” pairing with the haiku on page 618.
12. Basho, as many artists did, interlaces two forms of literary art. Identify them by genre.
13. In The Story of the Stone, why does Baoyu develop his strange sickness?
14. Daiyu herself suffers tremendous sickness. What is the significance of her “wraithlike smile” on page 568? What literary device is being used in this image?
15. Even though the adjective/noun “futile self-delusion” is used in reference to Baoyu’s search for Daiyu, what is the overall concept at play here, especially given significant themes in The Story of the Stone?
16. This may or may not be a difficult question. Reading the world in terms of deep personification, where stones can give birth to eggs (424) and magic is possible, identify a specific story element (character, example of action) that illustrates the reality of the supernatural in The Journey to the West. Hint: don’t over complicate the question.
17. Why in The Journey to the West do we have this odd observation, given that the images appear contradictory: “In the mountain there is no passing of time; / the cold recedes, but one knows not the year.” Hint: how can there be no passing of time yet the seasons apparently change?
18. Provide an example from The Peach Blossom Fan of a metaphor. Explain why it is not a simile.
19. Provide an example of existential suffering in The Journey to the West.
20. What is Chen Xuanzang’s goal in The Journey to the West?
21. Who is Tripitaka and why does this matter?
Essay Questions. Choose 1 of the three below. You should think about 1300 words as a minimum word count. This provides enough space for analysis.
1. We’ve had a lot of discussion about crossings over or borders in World Literature. We know that “crossing” is an important human theme. The journey and the novel as types of literary works engage the idea of crossing spaces and crossing times. The border gives the idea of crossing over an image we can sink our teeth into. Examine the significance of borders to worldview or the supernatural or religion/philosophy or gender. Any insights? Explore this in multiple works.
2. Names (onamostics, toponymy) are a way of identifying, controlling, and understanding phenomena. They also assist in the telling of stories. What is the significance of names or naming in world literature? What do names or naming have to say about history, the perception of the self, and identity? Explore this in multiple works.
3. Suffering is a significant theme in world literature because all literature explores the human life world. How do literary and dramatic artists answer this profound question: what do we suffer and why do we suffer it? Explore this in multiple works.